The Portland daily press., 1887-12-12

and one-half hours, the gentlemen lighted
their cigars and the meeting was called to
order by President Blabon, who spoke as
follows:
PRESIDENT BLABoN's SPEECH.
Gentlemen of the Board lof Trade and Merchants
1 d should do Injustice to my own feelings ii did
not express to you my sincere gratitude for the
. interest you have manifested In making this ban
quet magnificent success; and, considering the
large assembly of business men present tonight,
think the largest business assembly lhaye ever
met in Portland, who have been strictly business
men have considered 1t proper. with the advice
Of our committee, to discuss some enterprises
which will promote the welfare and the interests
OF our town. Before proceeding, ! VIII state IN
relation to the Board of Trade that am gratified
to see that ii Is in very fourlshing condition at
this time; we have obtained a hundred new MEM
bers within the past year should have stated
that before. But the subject which wish to sub
init to your consideration particularly this eve
ming and for discussion, is'the one OF more eeva-
tor capacity In our town for the accommodation OF
our export trade. This question was pressed up
on the attention of the Board Of Trade eight or
ten months ago y was dseSssea Sc IN our BSafa 10
confer with the general manager OF the Grand
Trunk Road, Mr.. Hickson Of Montreal, In relation
able TO obtain more elevator accomOda-
tions Our committee opened a CORES
pondence with ch Mr. neTis meks1n and nStre 1ee that
their recommendation was that the whole matter
should rest for awhile, and nothing more was said
four weeks ago, hearing that Mr.. Hekson was In
town. and in the absence OF the chairman OF our
committee (and IN tact ire majority q % our com com
S. Hunt to accompany me IN conference with
Mr.. Hickson. Mr.. Hicks0n met US In frank cor
dial manr or, and apoogized TO the committee that
he had not been able to meet the question as
frankly as he would have liked to nave done and
wished to explain his embarrassment IN me mat
portant negotiations going on between himself
and the steamship company, the result OF which
Certain as 10 the result Of the negotiations but as
soon as he had learned he would be very happy 70
meet any committee on equal or liberal ground ln
relation TO the new elevator. He appreciated
the need of new elevator here as much as we,
and while he would expect the business OF fort-
land TO be liberal he should be willing 70 meet the
ion fairly and do all that was In his power TO
bring about the enterprise that was SO mueh heeu-
ed In the city, Now while . snouiu He Plg5eI ~ @ 70
exnect that they will c0nfine themselves TO
mis- question wholly, but TO discuss any question
that will promote the interests OF our town.
We want 10 be stirred up here; we are making
money too fast, and we do not give any time 10
public enterprise; every man Is satlsneu Win ms
own business; we want to take hold and be unit
ed. and considering the natural facilities Of this
town for doing large export ana import business
am surprised that we 90 not MAKE oes.er prog
ms froml the West without the facilities Tor
handling business, any more than the merchant
here can expect TO sell his stock OF goods before
he has bought IL. It is necessary for us TO have
means 10 handle this business before we get II,
and we cannot get tt before we nave them was
talking 10 some large shippers In the West In re-
iafion 10 this business; they said that Portland Is
some 125 miles nearer than any other seapor. on on
fhe Atlantic coast for all those immense plain
nelds one of then said, "What can you do for US
il we ship goods 10 you? How many elevators have
son9 What facilitfes?" / answered. "We have
o9De., He said, 1--WE should not dare TO ship to
you; you are not capable Of handling ~; Ten
fIemen this Is the condition that we are In. We
shall never get the business until we obtain the
means TO dolt and prepare for lt; Will not de
tain you with any remarks that can make, be-
cause there are gentlemen here much more eapa-
duce our honorable Mayor Chapman.
The remarks Of Mr.. Blabon were warmly
received. and the next speaker, Mayor
Chapman, held the undivided attention Of
the meeting with the following excellent
remarks:
MAYOR CHkPMAN's SPEECH.
Mr.. President aud Gentlemen Of the Board o.
Trade: -, A..
In rising In response TO my name, desire 70
express my qualification Ut meeting 80 many sen-